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Add One Former Player to This Roster

Some Possible Choices

  • Total voters
    172
2014DualCs said:
I'm truly shocked and questioning the UConn fan base a little here.

Clingan or Okafor being on the team would both guarantee a natty. But Okafor is the OBVIOUS choice.
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A 42 year old Emeka over Clingan who just finished his rookie season?
 
Scoe said:
A 42 year old Emeka over Clingan who just finished his rookie season?
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Believe this was a thought exercise of adding a former player (in their playing prime) to this existing squad which has 1 open roster spot.
 
Scoe said:
Well Ray is 50 so I'm gonna say Liam is better currently. Ray might be a bit old to still be saving LeBron's legacy.

It's interesting how you accuse others of using nostalgia when it comes to NBA talk, yet you're using nostalgia yourself here. All fine and good it's just interesting to see.
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Interesting point that Ray is 50. Really, quite interesting. Bet you’re happy you got to mention LeBron, somehow.

I’m using nostalgia? Liam is a good player and will be a good NBA player. He shot 38% here. Ray shot 47% FROM 3 and was a first team All-American and BE POTY. There is nothing Liam did better at UConn than Ray.

Clingan vs Emeka is at least somewhat fair, this is just ridiculous.
 
I don't think you can go wrong with Clingan, Okafor, or any of the point guards.

I picked Napier, not only for his moxie, leadership, and ability to create for himself and others when the play breaks down -- something Hurley admits we weren't able to do enough last year -- but for his defense. We were killed last year by not having reliable on-ball stoppers.
 
Senior year Hilton Armstrong

Donnell Beverly is another. Not for what he'd do in games, but for what he'd bring off the court. His contributions in 2011 are often overlooked.
 
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2014DualCs said:
If this isn't trolling, then I'm concerned for your well being
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Its a hypothetical non serious thread, im obviously joking. Some of you take these hypothetical scenarios far too serious.

OMG how could you pick this guy over that guy in this imaginary scenario how dare you pick him.
 
CardiacAndre7 said:
Interesting point that Ray is 50. Really, quite interesting. Bet you’re happy you got to mention LeBron, somehow.

I’m using nostalgia? Liam is a good player and will be a good NBA player. He shot 38% here. Ray shot 47% FROM 3 and was a first team All-American and BE POTY. There is nothing Liam did better at UConn than Ray.

Clingan vs Emeka is at least somewhat fair, this is just ridiculous.
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Of course I would take Ray over McNeeley easily, but that's just too easy so try to think a little outside the box.
 
Travelman6 said:
That is so tough. But I think walker has what it takes to push many of these fringe teams over the top, like 2006 or last year or 2009 and would make this year's team a title favorite.

My 2nd pick is Okafor with his rim protection no one would go inside and he'd open up the outside for the shooters to knock down even more 3s.

Almost any of those players push thus team to championship favorite. Butlers mental toughness, Rays ice cold dagger 3s and so on.

You gotta like RIP too the ultimate slasher.
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I went with Kemba, but if you think that Demary has the guard spot locked down for us, then yeah Clingan becomes the obvious choice.
 
An interesting question might be "What non-All American, non-NBA player would you add to this team"

Maybe that really would be Charles Okwandu

(Of course it would be Charles Okwandu)
 
I picked Clingan. Along with many of you. But frankly hes too easy. Last years team likely wins the championship with Clingan. Maybe next years team does the same. He may just make any team an immediate contender. The team would have to be really bad for the addition of Clingan not to give them an outside chance.

He did nothing but win at UCONN. Even in his one year in the NBA he's shown some signs he can do the same.
 
Based on the results, I think the recency bias with Clingan is strong. Second best center in our history imo, but Okafor was a monster on both ends.

I still picked Butler because I believe in a significant Reed breakout(All Big East minimum/AA maximum). And I think Reibe will be good enough in the backup role.

Butler fits as the teams go to scorer and bigger wing that we’re missing.
 
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Huskyforlife said:
Based on the results, I think the recency bias with Clingan is strong. Second best center in our history imo, but Okafor was a monster on both ends.

I still picked Butler because I believe in a significant Reed breakout(All Big East minimum/AA maximum). And I think Reibe will be good enough in the backup role.

Butler fits as the teams go to scorer and bigger wing that we’re missing.
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If your question was who had the best season as a UConn Husky you would see more Okafor responses. You would likely get a majority of responses saying Kemba, Okafor, Donyell and Ray.

For your question Clingan was always going to be the runaway winner.
 
I love Okafor. He's one of my favorite players of all time. That said, while he was a great shot blocker, I would have to go with Clingan. He was just an intimidating physical presence and you could see him wear guys down over the game. Imagine having to body Clingan and Reed for 40 minutes.
After DC, its between Emeka and Sanogo for me. Emeka was better defensively, but Sanogo's footwork and adding the 3 could help spread out the D.
If I went with a non big, it might have to Castle, again because of the physicality and defense.
 
Clingan defensively was so underrated in terms of his overall value and success. They had the scoring but when he added to that it was such a bonus.
 
Matrim55 said:
Have we forgotten how great Emeka was? He averaged 4.3 blocks per game for his career, and was able to stay on the court for 30+ mpg because he didn't foul. He was also a go-to scorer in the way that Clingan never was.

Love Clingan, but he's second at best.
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I think Clingan gets the edge from a lot of fans because he's from Connecticut.
 
One of things not mentioned at all in the Meka vs DC debate is what not shown up in the stats sheets like how many shots DC altered per game. I have seen so many games DC literally turned 10 feet radius within the basket as sahara desert for the opposing teams.
Oh yeah, DC is not foul prone either as many viewed. On the contrary, Meka had 2 quick fouls in the Duke game (no knock just a fact)

My pick is DC.
 
It is insane that my pick, Donyell, only has 5 votes. This dude was the best college player we ever had. He swatted shots left and right, rebounded like a maniac and could do it all offensively. Total disrespect. 25ppg, 9.8 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, 2 assists. He was a great player.

If I have to pick someone else for this team, I stay with the frontline and take Emeka or Caron. I want that toughness in the trenches. I believe that this team has all of the talent it needs in the backcourt and at the wings. I love Shabbaz and Kemba, so I generally go with them on these kind of threads, but this team needs front court warriors. Hopefully, we have them. We’ve got a really nice roster. You can’t have it all.
 
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HailUConn said:
One of things not mentioned at all in the Meka vs DC debate is what not shown up in the stats sheets like how many shots DC altered per game. I have seen so many games DC literally turned 10 feet radius within the basket as sahara desert for the opposing teams.
Oh yeah, DC is not foul prone either as many viewed. On the contrary, Meka had 2 quick fouls in the Duke game (no knock just a fact)

My pick is DC.
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What also matters in the debate is Emeka did a lot of the same things, had the stamina to play bigger minutes, and was a much better offensive player on top of it.
 
Spaceman213J said:
I love Okafor. He's one of my favorite players of all time. That said, while he was a great shot blocker, I would have to go with Clingan. He was just an intimidating physical presence and you could see him wear guys down over the game. Imagine having to body Clingan and Reed for 40 minutes.
After DC, its between Emeka and Sanogo for me. Emeka was better defensively, but Sanogo's footwork and adding the 3 could help spread out the D.
If I went with a non big, it might have to Castle, again because of the physicality and defense.
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The size difference is massive.

Screenshot_20250728_212709_Chrome.jpg
 
uchusky32 said:
Marshall gives us power in the PF spot and back up center that would stretch the floor.
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Donyell was roughly 200 pounds in college. Played a hybrid power forward and not a very good defender vs dribble penetration but a terrific help defender as a shot blocker. Definitely not a back up center
 
HailUConn said:
One of things not mentioned at all in the Meka vs DC debate is what not shown up in the stats sheets like how many shots DC altered per game. I have seen so many games DC literally turned 10 feet radius within the basket as sahara desert for the opposing teams.
Oh yeah, DC is not foul prone either as many viewed. On the contrary, Meka had 2 quick fouls in the Duke game (no knock just a fact)

My pick is DC.
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We all saw that Duke game. They were cheapo fouls and to take that one example to prove he was foul prone is bad logic.

Also, you think Okafor didn't alter shots? Over 4 blocks a game and you think that's the sum total of his defense?
 
ucp990411 said:
Donyell was roughly 200 pounds in college. Played a hybrid power forward and not a very good defender vs dribble penetration but a terrific help defender as a shot blocker. Definitely not a back up center
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These days he'd be adequate at backup center. Samson Johnson was serviceable and Donyell was better in every way. They had similar builds. You don't see too many beefy centers in the current game. I agree though, he'd be a lightweight against some of the bruisers.
 
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2014DualCs said:
Emeka is also way more athletic
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He would have to be to be as good as he was. But Clingan isn't a normal 7 foot plus college guy. His ability to track his guy and block and alter shots is special. Okafor was special, too, but Clingan just ate up so much floor on the defensive end.
I think it was in the Illinois game he had 2 or 3 blocks in a minute and after that, nobody on the other team wanted any part of him. Guys would get a step, but didn't continue on all the way because of his presence.
Part of what made Okafor special aside from his timing and discipline, was guys get a step and a 6'9'' guy but don't realize he can get up to the top of the backboard like it's nothing.
I just want that intimidation factor, but if there's no Clingan, I would be happy with Okafor in there.
 
Re: Emeka vs Clingan, while I get Clingan’s size is insane and he clearly had the ability to alter or negate shot attempts, we forget the impact of Castle on that D. Clingan alone or Castle alone had about the same defensive metrics on that team - it was when both were on the court that 24 defense was elite. If Castle doesn’t shut down the other team’s best perimeter player, Donovan just isn’t going to be two places at once.

If you look at Emeka’s win shares, he’s at 9.9 in 04. 6 plus of those are on the defensive side. Clingan gets under 3 - (I think this metric is undervaluing Clingan, but the point is that Emeka was absolutely elite).

If you need to grab a rebound at the end of the game, I’ll take Okafor all day long. If you’re in a rock fight Okafor can score down low. I can’t imagine Okafor couldn’t play in Hutley’s system - imagine the lobs he could grab. He was .599 fg% his junior year - I bet that gets to Samson like %, but with real volume.

I’m not sure if I’d go Okafor or a pg. If pg, im between Newton and Kemba - might take Newton for the size and ability to see over the defense, but i loved Kemba and his leadership might be needed on a team following a down year.
 
ucp990411 said:
Donyell was roughly 200 pounds in college. Played a hybrid power forward and not a very good defender vs dribble penetration but a terrific help defender as a shot blocker. Definitely not a back up center
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Small ball lineups of today? Less physical than in the 90s. 3rd center?
 
Scottzer said:
Re: Emeka vs Clingan, while I get Clingan’s size is insane and he clearly had the ability to alter or negate shot attempts, we forget the impact of Castle on that D. Clingan alone or Castle alone had about the same defensive metrics on that team - it was when both were on the court that 24 defense was elite. If Castle doesn’t shut down the other team’s best perimeter player, Donovan just isn’t going to be two places at once.

If you look at Emeka’s win shares, he’s at 9.9 in 04. 6 plus of those are on the defensive side. Clingan gets under 3 - (I think this metric is undervaluing Clingan, but the point is that Emeka was absolutely elite).

If you need to grab a rebound at the end of the game, I’ll take Okafor all day long. If you’re in a rock fight Okafor can score down low. I can’t imagine Okafor couldn’t play in Hutley’s system - imagine the lobs he could grab. He was .599 fg% his junior year - I bet that gets to Samson like %, but with real volume.

I’m not sure if I’d go Okafor or a pg. If pg, im between Newton and Kemba - might take Newton for the size and ability to see over the defense, but i loved Kemba and his leadership might be needed on a team following a down year.
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Exactly what I'm trying to convey. Also you briefly mention Newton, who I think is and will always be the most underrated player during our 2 year run. Dude was an absolute gamer and could arguably be the most important piece on those teams.
 
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